Degree Requirements

The Master of Professional Studies degree is a 33-36 credit hour program. The following six courses, called the "core" component, are required of all students seeking this degree:

PRS 601 - Applied Research for Professionals (3 credit hrs.)This course offers students an examination of research methods suitable for data collection involving human subjects, organizational units and geographic areas extending to discussions and applications of data analysis tools and techniques. Students will develop and conduct research projects to demonstrate mastery of course content. These projects must relate to the student's area of specialization within the M.Pr.S degree.

PRS 603 - Professional Communications (3 credit hrs.)An examination of communications literature and practice, including theory and application of communication approaches. Students will evaluate communication effectiveness to diverse audiences and seek to improve their individual communication effectiveness. M.Pr.S students will complete a Personal Report on Communication Apprehension (PRCA) and meet appropriate steps to lower their communication apprehension.

PRS 605 - Professional Ethics in a Multicultural World (3 credit hrs.)This course represents an exploration of the nature of ethics related to organizational practices in such areas as business, engineering and health care. Focus is also placed on individual interactions within organizational settings. Topics, including ethical theory and applied ethics, are discussed in a multicultural context.

PRS 607 - Leadership, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution (3 credit hrs.)This course provides early and mid-career professionals an opportunity to explore their personal strengths and weaknesses related to current leadership skills. Strategies applicable to resolving conflict internal and external to an organization through negotiation, including mediation and arbitration, will be addressed.

PRS 609 - Organizations, Institutions, and Change (3 credit hrs.)This course represents a multi-disciplinary study of the impact of social change on individuals, organizations, and the social institutions of society where many professionals work in an administrative and leadership capacity. The course focuses on developing the student’s ability to understand, plan for, cope with, and manage personal and organization change in the context of a dynamic society.

PRS 611 - Globalization and Society (3 credit hrs.)This course explores historical and contemporary aspects of globalization, defined as the increased interconnectivity and internationalization of economic, political, social, and cultural systems. The course examines the historical development trajectory of globalization, focusing on its causes and effects, including positive and negative impacts of globalization on modern societies and the debates surrounding these impacts.

In addition to the six core courses, students will enroll in PRS 695 - Capstone/Thesis (3-6 credit hrs.)

All M.Pr.S students will produce a Capstone or Thesis project as a graduation requirement. The student will work closely with their faculty advisor or Thesis Committee in meeting this requirement.

As students complete the core component, they will also be completing 12 credit hours (4 graduate level courses) of coursework in their area of specialization (i.e., Community Development, Higher Education Administration, Information Technology and Security and Safety Leadership). Students are expected to communicate with their academic advisor regarding the selection and scheduling of their coursework within completion of 12 graduate credit hours. Advising appointments will be arranged around the student's schedule. Students must have their specialization coursework approved within completion of the first 12 credit hours of this degree program.